Section 127.55 - Greenhouse Operation and Production (One Credit), Adopted 2024(a) Implementation. The provisions of this section shall be implemented by school districts beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.(b) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 10-12. Recommended prerequisite: Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. Students shall be awarded one credit for successful completion of this course.(c) Introduction. (1) Career and technical education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.(2) The Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster focuses on the production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources, including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products/resources.(3) Greenhouse Operation and Production is designed for students to develop an understanding of greenhouse production techniques and practices. To prepare for careers in horticultural and controlled environment agricultural systems, students must attain academic knowledge and skills, acquire technical knowledge and skills related to horticultural systems and the workplace, and develop knowledge and skills regarding career opportunities, entry requirements, and industry expectations. To prepare for success, students need opportunities to learn, reinforce, apply, and transfer their knowledge and skills and technologies in a variety of settings.(4) Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations and other leadership or extracurricular organizations.(5) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.(d) Knowledge and skills.(1) The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to: (A) identify career development, education, and entrepreneurship opportunities in the field of greenhouse operation and production;(B) identify and demonstrate interpersonal, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills used in greenhouse operation and production;(C) describe and demonstrate appropriate personal and occupational safety and health practices for the workplace;(D) identify employers' legal responsibilities and expectations, including appropriate work habits and ethical conduct;(E) describe and demonstrate characteristics of good citizenship in the agricultural workplace, including promoting stewardship, community leadership, civic engagement, and agricultural awareness and literacy; and(F) identify training, education, and certification requirements for occupational choices.(2) The student develops a supervised agricultural experience program. The student is expected to: (A) plan, propose, conduct, document, and evaluate a supervised agricultural experience program as an experiential learning activity; and(B) use appropriate record-keeping skills in a supervised agricultural experience program.(3) The student develops leadership skills through participation in an agricultural youth organization. The student is expected to: (A) participate in youth agricultural leadership opportunities;(B) review and participate in a local program of activities; and(C) create or update documentation of relevant agricultural experience such as community service, professional, or classroom experiences.(4) The student understands the history and progress of the greenhouse industry. The student is expected to: (A) trace the relevant historical advancements in the greenhouse industry such as developments in construction materials and use of technology and describe the impact of these advancements on current industry practices;(B) research and identify emerging technologies in the greenhouse industry; and(C) analyze current trends in the greenhouse industry.(5) The student identifies and investigates different greenhouse structures, interior layout, and construction factors. The student is expected to: (A) compare greenhouse styles and construction materials;(B) compare and select greenhouse coverings;(C) analyze the costs associated with greenhouse construction;(D) identify factors to consider when constructing a greenhouse such as greenhouse orientation and access to electricity, roads, drainage, water, and plumbing;(E) identify and describe additional growing structures such as cold frames and hotbeds;(F) design a layout of essential areas of a greenhouse such as receiving, storage, seedling propagation, crop production, harvest, sanitation, packaging, labeling, and distribution areas;(G) describe the adaptation of greenhouse concepts to plant production in controlled environments such as indoor vertical farms and freight containers;(H) differentiate between passive and controlled greenhouses; and(I) analyze greenhouse operation regulations enacted by regulatory agencies such as the Texas Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture, and local agencies.(6) The student identifies and assesses environmental conditions within the greenhouse. The student is expected to: (A) describe various environmental factors controlled in the greenhouse;(B) determine and calculate factors used in heating and cooling a greenhouse;(C) describe the effects of greenhouse climate conditions such as ventilation, carbon dioxide generation, and humidity on plant growth in the greenhouse;(D) explore the importance of light characteristics on the production of greenhouse crops; and(E) compare open and closed environmental systems in the greenhouse such as irrigation, lighting, climate control, carbon dioxide injection, and fertilization.(7) The student identifies, operates, and maintains greenhouse environmental and mechanical controls. The student is expected to:(A) explain how to operate and maintain heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in a greenhouse;(B) explain how to operate and maintain electrical systems in a greenhouse;(C) explain how to operate and maintain various water systems in a greenhouse;(D) explain how to operate lighting systems in a greenhouse; and(E) illustrate and describe the integration of automated control systems such as lighting, cooling, irrigation, fertigation, and carbon dioxide injection.(8) The student identifies and classifies plants used in greenhouse production. The student is expected to: (A) classify plants commonly used in greenhouses based on taxonomic systems;(B) identify and compare plant anatomical structures and functions that are used in plant identification; and(C) analyze plant classifications based on cropping schedules and market demand for greenhouse crops.(9) The student identifies and investigates greenhouse crop production factors. The student is expected to: (A) identify and explain the chemical and physical differences in greenhouse media components;(B) compare greenhouse growing mixes for factors, including drainage and nutrient-holding capacity;(C) compare different containers, benches, and production equipment used in greenhouses;(D) evaluate different methods of watering greenhouse crops based on the type of crop, stage of development, cost-effectiveness, and weather;(E) analyze the effect of nutrients on greenhouse plant growth;(F) diagnose common nutrient deficiency symptoms found in greenhouse crops; and(G) develop fertilization plans that address greenhouse crop needs and environmental impacts.(10) The student propagates greenhouse crops. The student is expected to: (A) analyze different methods of propagating greenhouse crops using sexual and asexual propagation methods;(B) propagate greenhouse crops using sexual and asexual methods;(C) investigate and explain physiological conditions that affect plant propagation; and(D) analyze the effects of plant growth regulators on plant growth and development.(11) The student investigates pest and disease identification and control methods in the greenhouse environment. The student is expected to:(A) identify and classify common diseases, insects, pathogens, and weeds in the greenhouse;(B) identify essential components of an integrated pest management plan in controlling an insect, pathogen, or weed problem;(C) identify appropriate greenhouse pesticide application techniques and equipment; and(D) analyze pesticide labeling and safety data sheets.(12) The student performs greenhouse management business procedures. The student is expected to: (A) identify and develop effective marketing strategies to market greenhouse crops to increase profits;(B) develop appropriate methods for preparing greenhouse crops for various means of transport;(C) analyze materials, labor, and administrative costs related to greenhouse production;(D) analyze methods used to maintain crop quality during marketing and transport; and(E) prepare a production schedule for a greenhouse crop from establishment to market within a specific timeline.19 Tex. Admin. Code § 127.55
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 36, September 6, 2024, TexReg 6996, eff. 9/9/2024